language problemsd

[edsperfect 25]

My fience can speak some English but of course is self-concous about it and also worried.

HOw did you complete the education in english? Was it just learn as you go or were you able to obtain a tutor? I have been looking in my area for someone to teach it but have been unsuccessful todate

[sophyie 0]

My fience can speak some English but of course is self-concous about it and also worried.

HOw did you complete the education in english? Was it just learn as you go or were you able to obtain a tutor? I have been looking in my area for someone to teach it but have been unsuccessful todate

She should try and have as much contact to English speaking people as possible once she's in the US. Even though it takes a lot of curage in the beginning, but she should go shopping by herself, order food in restaurants, go to the bank by herself ...

The best and fastest way to learn a language is to live in the country and use the language each and every day.

While she's still in Russia: maybe she could read English books and magazines, watch English movies- all that helps, too.

Last idea: maybe you could get started on learning a little Russian. I know it's not an easy language- but it might be very worth the effort.

[JaJo 1]

ESL classes

[russ 1]

While she's still in Russia: maybe she could read English books and magazines, watch English movies- all that helps, too.

Last idea: maybe you could get started on learning a little Russian. I know it's not an easy language- but it might be very worth the effort.

Good advice. A public library or International Studies department at a local university would be the first place I would look for information about ESL classes in the US. Unless you live someplace fairly remote, this should be easy to find.

It was easy for me to find a native speaker in Russia to help me study (and free). We speak English for an hour, then Russian for an hour by phone - cheap too at 2 cents/minute. Look around online at language forums, it should be easy to find a university student studying Russian who speaks English natively. They will be happy to trade lessons. I find this very helpful.

My wife's English is about 10 years more advanced than my Russian, I wouldn't say that it helps in our case. If you are both at about the same level in English/Russian, studying both will make things easier.

It is worth studying Russian in any case, as it will be difficult to watch the same movies, read the same things, have the same friends, etc. After about 500-1,000 hours of study, you should be able to at least follow a converation.

[edsperfect 25]

While she's still in Russia: maybe she could read English books and magazines, watch English movies- all that helps, too.

Last idea: maybe you could get started on learning a little Russian. I know it's not an easy language- but it might be very worth the effort.

Good advice. A public library or International Studies department at a local university would be the first place I would look for information about ESL classes in the US. Unless you live someplace fairly remote, this should be easy to find.

It was easy for me to find a native speaker in Russia to help me study (and free). We speak English for an hour, then Russian for an hour by phone - cheap too at 2 cents/minute. Look around online at language forums, it should be easy to find a university student studying Russian who speaks English natively. They will be happy to trade lessons. I find this very helpful.

My wife's English is about 10 years more advanced than my Russian, I wouldn't say that it helps in our case. If you are both at about the same level in English/Russian, studying both will make things easier.

It is worth studying Russian in any case, as it will be difficult to watch the same movies, read the same things, have the same friends, etc. After about 500-1,000 hours of study, you should be able to at least follow a converation.

This a gfreat suggestion and thank you. I have tried to learn some Russian. For some reason my brain doesn't work with languages. Almost flunked french in High school but teacher passed me provided i didn't take any more frtench.

Since then i have tried the best Italian and russian cds etc. I am afraid i am a lost causer

[russ 1]

This a gfreat suggestion and thank you. I have tried to learn some Russian. For some reason my brain doesn't work with languages. Almost flunked french in High school but teacher passed me provided i didn't take any more frtench.

Since then i have tried the best Italian and russian cds etc. I am afraid i am a lost causer

You are not a lost cause - it just takes a lot of time. With Russian, you will need more than CDs. The grammar is more critical in Russian than most other languages - you really do need to know how nouns and adjectives decline. The good news is that verbs in Russian are almost all regular.

Here are some resources that I recommend:

http://www.princeton.edu/russian/SLA101/ - Princeton University Russian, very good and free

http://www.masterrussian.com/ - Russian language resources

http://www.gwu.edu/~slavic/golosa.htm - The textbook my course uses

Hope this helps -

[PurrSuede 0]

ESL classes

Specifically, English as a Second Language course are given at MOST "Community Colleges" nationwide. These are paid for with your tax-dollars and are usually free or at nominal fee at registration.

She may also meet others in the class who speak her language, or for that matter, realize there are others in America who also do not speak English as their primary language.

I just wanted to address -where- you can find these ESL classes, since I didn't see anyone else addressing the where, not just the "how".

-- Dan

Edited November 28, 2006 by PurrSuede

[Turboguy 6]

When my former fiancee was here I had her in the free ESL classes at the branch of our state university (Penn State)

I was lucky and saw an article in the newspaper about them while we were waiting for the interview. You should be able to do an internet search. When I couldn't find the article one time I just searched the internet. Try searching for ESL and then plug in the name of each community college or state university branch till you hit a winner. Most everyplace has the classes.

[repete12747 0]

Hello:

My wife Maria came here three months ago. She spoke almost no English. She is taking ESL classes at our Community College. She has improved a great deal Her teachers are amazed. I bought her a pocket translator($200) that is helping a lot. She also wathcing TV and picks up a lot from that, News and information channels help alot.

She pretty much understands everything, just can't speak it well, get frustrated sometimes but I encourage her and give her high 5's when she speaks good english.

Hope this helps.

Larry

My fience can speak some English but of course is self-concous about it and also worried.

HOw did you complete the education in english? Was it just learn as you go or were you able to obtain a tutor? I have been looking in my area for someone to teach it but have been unsuccessful todate

[slim 1,525]

The walls of my apartment are plastered with bi-lingual signs, written in Russian and in English. Everything that we both didn't know the word for has a sticky (yellow, 3M post-it) with the word in both languages. Elena adds a sign with new words every-so-often, and we've both picked up a great deal just by the daily interactions of her being here. The most effective way for her or you to learn the language is to use it. Even if you can't complete the sentence, say everything you can in Russian (or her in English) then the word or words you don't understand in English. Correct each other, and try as much as possible to "think" in the other language.

As far as actually "getting" the language down, the only thing that's going to work is practice. We still have a long way to go, but, the progress is swift, and as long as we keep trying, we keep improving!

AND USE THE PIMSLEUR CD SET!!!!! YOU WILL LEARN RUSSIAN IF YOU LISTEN TO PIMSLEUR EVERY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lija 0]

I am an ESL teacher in Colorado. The best way to locate your local English classes is to call the main office for the local public school system and ask if they have an Adult Education Department. They usually do. Call them and ask about any English classes. If they don't have any, chances are, they will know where they are.

Lija

[Nancy2015 2]

A little off-top

I really admire all of you who made an effort to learn some Russian just because you have a Russian spouse. I admire that a lot. It really is a great way to show how much you value your relationship

As for resources to learn English - definitely go to a public library and try to look for something like "English for Russian speakers". I would especially recommend video and audio materials. Of course, a private tutor would be an ideal thing, but they may charge quite a bit for their lessons.

Good luck!

[akdiver 3]

I really admire all of you who made an effort to learn some Russian just because you have a Russian spouse. I admire that a lot. It really is a great way to show how much you value your relationship

I finished my second semester of Russian (102) in the fall. I got an "A" both semesters, but my wife told me not to take any more Russian classes because it takes too much of our time, and causes too much stress for her because she tries to help me and I am a terrible student. (:

So, no more Russian classes for me. Nyet!!! (:

Cheers!

AKDiver

[Chuckles 0]

We seem to have the same problem, my wife needs more confidence using English outside the home. We started ESL classes at the college (not the free ones, she knows English, just needs practice) and found the instruction and the content to be lacking. That was at Portland comm. college btw, NOT recommended if you live in this area.

So we have lots of books and online stuff, plus we are working on finding some volunteer work for her, as well as trying to get her EAD so she can start working and start getting out and communicating with 'strangers' more.

[KoshkaMoshka 0]

Well,Iam russian and when came to USA didn't know english very well(I could write but had a problem to speak fluently),i didn't have some classes at all(and we living in community where probably difficult to find them:)So...I learned myself(I read many books,and it's really helped me)Now i feel more confident to talk with americans:)